Pastoral Letter 04 Oct 2020

My dear readers,

Proverbs 15:31: “The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.”

To be reproved, i.e. chastised, is never nice. The one who has to do the disciplining also does not feel good. It is a most unpleasant experience for both parties. However, in life it is a necessary experience, no matter how unpleasant it may seem to all parties concerned. We all make mistakes. All believers need help to return to the path of righteousness. Chastisement is what the LORD uses to draw us back to Himself. Hebrews 12:5-8: “And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”

Chastisement is not the same as punishment. In punishment, the person deserves judgment because of wrong committed. It is like a judge sentencing a criminal to prison with no desire from the judge to rehabilitate him. The judge must mete out a fair punishment. In the case of chastisement, the judgment is also fair but with the hope of restoration. It is like a father disciplining his child hoping that he will become a good child. The latter is the context of Proverbs 15:31.

The literal translation is: “The ear that hears the reproof of life, among the wise he shall abide.”

The ears decide! – Of all the parts of our bodies, the ears decide if we are wise. Of course, it is the heart that receives the truth of God but the entrance of this truth is the ears. What the ears listen to is the gateway to the heart. If a person listens to carnal music, the carnality of the world will sway his heart. Hymns and godly songs will be offensive to him. If his ears receive gladly the philosophies of the devilish world, would it be surprising that his life reflects the image of the devil? The ears are constantly bombarded by the notions to do what is right in one’s own eyes! Following the ways of God is archaic. It belongs to the age of the dinosaurs. Democracy has spawned generations of people power where the tantrum of head-strong childish grown-ups today is rioting. Such barbaric behaviour spreads like uncontrollable wildfires destroying properties and lives of the hard-working. The ears of depraved sinners will not listen to reproofs. Their minds are blind and their hearts are hard as flint! These are deaf to the reproof of life which is the admonishment of the Good Shepherd. They will never believe because they do not know Him. John 10:26-27: “But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”

But the ears of the child of God are inclined to hear his Master’s voice. Jesus says in John 10:3-4, “To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.” Loving and kind-hearted words are sweet music to the ears. However, rebukes are often ignored and rejected by rebellious and disobedient children of God. This will result in the self-destruction of a holy witness that might have taken a lifetime to construct, layer by layer. Rebuke or reproof of life is key to spiritual well-being and the strengthening of the holy life of witness for Christ. It is not just any form of rebuke as rebukes come in all degrees of impact.

Many of the world’s rebukes are earthbound and they do not bring life. The life that Proverbs 15:31 speaks of is eternal. This applies to sinners too. When the rebuke is through the gospel of Christ and he listens, he is saved from his sins. If the rebuke is toward a wayward child of God, then it pertains to his holy witness. It also brings life to him and to others who are now able to see Christ in him again. Rebukes come from all agencies. It could be from a child, or even an unbeliever, as was the case of Abraham who was rebuked by Abimelech for lying about his wife Sarah. As long as the ears listen carefully to the godly rebuke of life it matters not whom the LORD uses.

The decision is wise – As long as the child of God listens, he is among the wise. Only the wise listen to rebukes that help them become better witnesses for Christ. The wise child of God knows that it is a rebuke of life. He knows he is a work in progress as an ambassador for Christ. His life needs to have such changes of directions whenever he walks outside of the narrow road of righteousness. These reproofs of life draw and pull him back onto the righteous path. He then turns his back on the carnal world and looks at the face of his Saviour again in prayer, devotion, and worship. To remain with God’s people begins on earth. He begins to delight in worshipping with God’s people once more.

His heart is at peace with his Saviour and God. He loves to read and study God’s Word which he shunned before. He now shuns places of sin and debauchery. He is attracted to Bible Study and fellowshipping with fellow believers more and more. They bring out the good and best in him which he misses. Fond memories of his younger life of holiness flood back and bring tears to his eyes. He begins to regret more and more his wasted life of sin and wishes that he had listened to the reproof of life sooner. All areas of his life from his home to work place are filled with the presence of the LORD through his obedience to God's Word. Everyone around him sees the transformation of this new man. His holy witness for Christ has returned. He loves his Lord more now than ever before. He is determined with God's help never to go back to his old ways.

He cannot thank God enough for sending His servant to reprove him and restore his spiritual life in Christ. He is among the wise men of God.

Food for Thought -- All of God’s children need the reproof of life more than once in their lifetime.